Communiversity to celebrate town-gown relationship on Sunday

The Communiversity Festival of the Arts, an annual celebration coordinated by the Arts Council of Princeton that highlights collaboration between the town and the University, will take place on Sunday, April 28. Communiversity normally attracts around 40,000 people, according to the event’s website.

The Communiversity website advertises “five stages of continuous live entertainment,” and the event will feature a myriad of performing artists. Stages will be located in several places in the town and on campus for singing group and dance ensembles to provide entertainment for the event.

Performances at the University include a cappella groups such as the Tigertones, the Tigerlilies, the Tigressions, the Nassoons, Kindred Spirit, Koleinu and the Wildcats engaging in arch sings at East Pyne. The Stanhope Stage, located near Nassau Hall, will feature performances by the Princeton University Chamber Ensemble, dance groups including Triple 8, Raks Odalisque, Ballet Folklorico and Sympoh and improv comedy courtesy of the Lobster Club.

In addition to the multitude of performances, other student groups will be tabling and doing small activities on Nassau Street, according to USG Campus and Community Affairs Chair Trap Yates ’14.

Yates is a former associate editor of the Street section of The Daily Princetonian.

Orange Key will also give tours of campus, leaving from in front of Nassau Hall at 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., according to a press release from the Arts Council of Princeton.

Communiversity’s town events take place on Nassau Street and Witherspoon Street, as well as at Palmer Square. Food stalls, arts and crafts vendors and booths run by non-profit organizations and local merchants will be found in these areas.

Communiversity began in 1971, when it was originally called "The Art People’s Party," according to Jeff Nathanson, the executive director of the Arts Council of Princeton. He said students from the University got involved in 1985 and it has been that way ever since.

“I think this is the largest town-gown event of the year. There’s a lot going on: great performances from student groups, community groups and professional groups; wonderful food; and arts and crafts,” Director of Community and Regional Affairs Kristin Appelget said. “We really encourage the students to come and participate.”

Communiversity features special events for children, including a ceramics demonstration at the Paul Robeson Center for the Arts, chalk street painting on the streets next to Tiger Park and a make-a-mess workshop encouraging kids to create original art on Palmer Square Green.

The event will take place rain or shine, according to the event’s webpage.